DETROIT, Mich. – Penn State football offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu (11th overall, New York Jets) and defensive end Chop Robinson (21st overall, Miami Dolphins) were both selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday.
Fashanu and Robinson became Penn State's 41st and 42nd all-time first round draft picks. It marks the first time Penn State had multiple first round draft picks since Micah Parsons (12th overall, Dallas Cowboys) and Odafe Oweh (31st overall, Baltimore Ravens) in 2021. It is the 10th time Penn State has had multiple first round picks in the same draft.
Fashanu is Penn State's highest overall draft pick since Saquon Barkley was selected second overall by the New York Giants in 2018. He is Penn State's highest-selected offensive lineman since Levi Brown went fifth overall to the Arizona Cardinals in 2007.
Robinson is Penn State's highest-selected defensive end since Aaron Maybin was picked 11th overall by the Buffalo Bills in 2009.
The Nittany Lions have a total of 39 players who have been drafted in the last seven NFL drafts, the most in a seven-year span for the program since 1991-97 (45 picks).
Penn State is one of three schools that has had a player selected among the first three rounds of the NFL Draft in 19-straight years, joining USC and LSU.
A total of 383 Nittany Lions have been selected all-time in the NFL Draft, which ranks seventh among Division I institutions. Penn State has had 48 players selected since James Franklin's arrival to the program in 2014, including 23 taken on the first two days of the draft.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu
Fashanu is Penn State's 34th offensive tackle (88th offensive lineman) selected in the NFL Draft and PSU's fourth offensive tackle selected in the first round. He is the seventh offensive lineman drafted in the James Franklin era.
He is the 27th Nittany Lion to be selected by the New York Jets all-time.
"The New York Jets just drafted a tremendous man and teammate who will be an unbelievable representative of their organization," said Franklin. "It has been an honor to have Olu and his family apart of our program. He is a model student-athlete, as he was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy and earned his degree from the Smeal College of Business with a 3.45 GPA. On the football field, he was a two-time All-American and the Big Ten's Offensive Lineman of the Year last season. His family has provided unbelievable support and love to Olu and our entire organization. We have been extremely fortunate to have a player like Olu represent this university and we all look forward to watching him continue to grow and succeed at the next level."
"Olu is ready for this next chapter with the New York Jets," said offensive line coach Phil Trautwein. "During his four years with us, he was determined to be great and always took a professional approach on how he did things, both on the football field and in the classroom. He was always an elite role model for everybody in our offensive line room and the rest of his teammates. It was never about Olu, it was always about his teammates. He's a great person who comes from an awesome family, and he will bring a high level of character to the Jets."
Olumuyiwa Fashanu · OL · 6-6 · 317 · Waldorf, Md. · Gonzaga College High School
- Became Penn State's 44th consensus All-American and the first offensive lineman to be named a consensus All-American since Jeff Hartings in 1995.
- Named first-team All-American by the Associated Press, AFCA, Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation in 2023.
- Selected second-team All-American by FWAA in 2023.
- Tabbed a first-team All-American by The Athletic, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.
- Was the first Nittany Lion to collect All-America honors from multiple NCAA-recognized outlets since Stefan Wisniewski (2010) and was the Penn State's first offensive lineman to earn All-America honors in back-to-back years since Levi Brown (2005, 2006).
- Was a Walter Camp second-team All-American in 2022.
- Is Penn State's second Rimington-Pace Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honoree, joining A.Q. Shipley in 2008.
- Was named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media.
- Earned All-Big Ten second team honors from the coaches and third team from the media in 2022.
- Shared Team MVP honors with Chop Robinson.
- Was voted a team captain in 2023.
- Fashanu was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, known as the "Academic Heisman".
- Was a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and was a member of the Outland Trophy and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award watch lists.
- Appeared in 29 games and made 22 starts at left tackle.
- Fashanu has allowed no sacks and 11 pressures in 382 pass blocking snaps in 2023 after giving up zero sacks in 281 pass blocking snaps in 2022.
- Honored as the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week following the Iowa game.
- The Nittany Lions did not allow a sack against Delaware, Iowa or Rutgers.
- Penn State tallied at least 400 yards in six games in 2023, including a season-high 586 yards at Michigan State.
Chop Robinson
Robinson is Penn State's 23rd defensive end selected in the NFL Draft and the seventh defensive end selected in the first round. He is the seventh defensive end selected in the James Franklin era.
He is the 13th Nittany Lion to be selected by the Miami Dolphins all-time and will join former Penn State linebacker Cam Brown on the Dolphins' roster.
"We are so proud of Chop for being selected by the Miami Dolphins," said Franklin. "Chop will be an explosive, disruptive pass rusher and run stopper in the NFL. He was determined and committed to taking his game to the next level the moment he stepped on campus. He was a first-team All-Big Ten honoree last season, an Associated Press All-American and one of our Team MVPs. We have really enjoyed watching Chop develop as a player and man since he joined our program. I look forward to watching him at the next level and I know he has a bright future with the Dolphins."
"I am so happy for Chop being drafted by the Miami Dolphins," said defensive line coach Deion Barnes. "He understands the game the football so well and has always had the determination to do whatever it takes to be the best he can be. He is a tireless worker who has spent a lot of extra time on his game on the field, in the weight room and in the film room. He has great speed, power and awareness, which are all important traits for a pass rusher and run stopper in the NFL. Most importantly, Chop will give his all every single day to be the best. The Dolphins are getting a great addition in Chop Robinson to their organization."
Chop Robinson · DE · 6-3 · 254 · Gaithersburg, Md. · Quince Orchard
- Voted a second-team All-American by Pro Football Focus and USA Today.
- Selected third-team All-American by the Associated Press.
- Tabbed first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media in 2023.
- Was selected All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2022.
- Shared Team MVP honors with Olumuyiwa Fashanu.
- Began the season on the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award watch lists.
- According to Pro Football Focus, had a 92.0 pass rush grade this season, sixth-highest among players with over 100 pass rush snaps.
- Owned 60 tackles (43 solo), 20 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three pass breakups in 35 games in his collegiate career.
- In 2023, Robinson had 15 tackles (12 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and five QB hurries in 10 games.
- Against Iowa, he made two tackles, including a strip-sack in the third quarter, and posted a 94.1 pass rush grade.
- He tied a career high with two sacks against UMass.
- In the Rutgers game, Robinson tied his career highs with five tackles and two tackles for loss. In the third quarter, he recorded a strip-sack and recovered the fumble.
- Tied for seventh in the Big Ten in sacks (5.5) and tied 15th in tackles for loss (10) in 2022.
Penn State opens the 2024 campaign against West Virginia on Saturday, August 31.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and ticket information for the 2024 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, or call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.